Job 17

1. My breath is corrupt. Rather, “My spirit (or vital power) is spent.”

The graves are. Rather, “the grave is.”

2 doth not mine eye continue in their provocation? i.e., it is always obtruded on my sight. The connexion is, My friends scorn me (see xvi. 10), and mock and continually provoke me; wherefore I pray God to bring me to trial (3).

3. Lay down now, etc. Rather, “Lay down, I pray, a pledge; be my surety [in the cause pending] with Thee; who [else] is there that will strike hands with me?” viz., as a token of suretyship: see Prov. vi. 1; xvii. 18; xxii. 26. Job here appeals to God to prove his innocence, as his friends could not understand, and do him justice.

4. For, etc. The words imply an answer to the foregoing question. These friends, at least, will not undertake for Job.

6. And aforetime I was as a tabret. Rather, “I am become as one in whose face they spit.” i.e., as R.V., “an open abhorring.”

8 shall be astonished at this. At this treatment of an upright man by his friends.

shall stir up himself, etc. Or, “shall be roused against the wicked.”

9. The righteous also. That is, Yet the righteous shall not be intimidated, but rather strengthened. Job probably includes himself, determining to hold fast his integrity.

10 do ye return. i.e., Return to the charge, repeating your accusations; “and I shall not find,” etc.

12. They change the night into day. i.e., by their delusive representations: see xi. 17.

13. If I wait, etc. Rather, “Surely I wait for Sheol [as] my house.”

14 to corruption. Or, “the grave.”

16. They. That is, my hopes. “The bars of the pit” are “the bars of the gates of Sheol,” or Hades.

when our rest together, etc. Rather, “Surely together in the dust is rest”; i.e., for me and my hopes.